§ SIR SEYMOUR KING (Hull, Central)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the statement made in a memorandum attached to a Bill laid before the German Reichstag referring to the abolition of sugar bounties consequent on the Brussels Convention; whether, as alleged in this memorandum, an express undertaking was given by the British representatives at Brussels that British India will, in consequence of the abolition of bounties, abandon the differential treatment of sugar imported from Germany; and, if so, whether the Indian Government was previously consulted in the matter and approved or disapproved the alleged undertaking.
(Answer.) The position of India with regard to the Convention was the subject of several declarations made in the course of the Conference, and also of a final declaration by the British Government which is embodied in the Final Protocol accompanying the Convention. The combined effect of these declarations is that the Government of India will adhere to the Convention if, after full consideration, they think it advisable to do so. In accordance with the undertaking given by His Majesty's Government in the Final Protocol the Convention has been forwarded for examination to the Government of India. Should India adhere to the Convention, its countervailing duties, as regards States which abolished their bounties in accordance with the Convention, will necessarily be discontinued. The Government of India has been consulted throughout, and approved the arrangements that have been made.—(India Office.)